Electric switch.



H. J. WIEGAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

1,056,310. Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETHHBBT l.

H. J. WIEGAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913 2 SHBETSSHE'ET 2.

ZkgZ/ZJ wwmw IIENRY J. WIEGAND, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented, Mar. 18, 1913.

Application filed March 24. 1910. Serial No. 551,261.

To all 'tU/lofib it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. WmoANo, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

electric switches and more particularly to those adapted to operate witha snap action. My invention has various ob ects and ad vantages whichwill be hereinafter clearly and fully set forth.

In order to fully disclose the nature and characteristic features of myinvention. i shall describe the devices illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which embody certain forms of my invention which I have workedout in practice.

Of course, my. invention is not limited to the particular constructionsillustratcdbut is capable of various modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

The several views in the accompanying drawing are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of switch. mechanism; Fig: 2 isa sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4

and 5 are sectional views showing the progressive stages in theoperation of the switch mechanism in one direction; Fig. 6 is asectional view of a pendant switch provided with a modified form of theswitch nnchanism shown on Sheet 1; and Fig. 7 :1 sectional view taken online 7'(, Fig. 6.

In. Figs. 1 to 5 I have merely shown the switch mechanism mounted uponan insulating supporting base 8; but,f course, it should be understoodthat this switch mechanism may be used in various other relati ns. Theseveral parts of the switch mechanism are supported by a frame 9,secured to the base 8 by suitable means such as a screw 10. The frame 9,as illustrated, merely comprises a metallic plate having its endportions 11 and 12 bent substantially at right angles thereto and havingintermediate of its ends and on opposite sides thereof n wardlyextending parallel lugs 13 and 14. Extending through the lugs 13 and 14is a pin 15. This pin is arranged to pivotally support the movablecontact member, which, as illustrated is substantially U-shaped, be

ing provided with parallel contact arms 16 and 17 and a cross member 18,said pin passing through the arms at a slight distance above the crossmember. The contact arms 16 and 17 are adapted to be moved into and outof engagement with stationary contact clips 18 and 19 respectivelysuitably secured to the insulating base 8. The contact arms 16 and 17are provided with longitudinal slots 20. through which extends a pin 21,My invention relates to improvements in having suitable heads 22 thereonfor retaining the same in place. The pin 21 has loosely mounted thereona roller 23, which roller preferably provided with flanged ends for apurpose hereinafter set forth. onneciod to the pin 21 on opposite sidesof roller 23 are coil springs 24, having opposite ends connected to theivot pin 15. The springs 24 tend to yieldingly hold the roller 2 againsta sliding cam member 21? s id cam member having oppositely inclinedsuriaces 26 and 27 which meet to form a peak or crest 28 over which theroller 23 adapted to ride. The cam member is preferably made flat and ofsuch a thickness as to freely fit between the flanged ends of the rollerthereby holding the roller against lateral movement. Connected toopposite ends of the cam member are elongated push buttoz' and ljl, theformer being arranged to p= through a correspondin ly shaped aperture inthe upwardly extending portion 12 of the frame 9, while the latterextends through a correspondingly shaped aperture in the insulating base8. The portion 12 of the frame 9 and the insulating base 8 thus formsliding bearings for the push buttons 30 and 31, and, consequently, forthe cam member 25. Of course, the cam member must be so arranged as toclear the pivot pin 15 and the cross member 18 connecting the contactarms. In practice,

however. I prefer to provide the cam member at opposite ends withdownwardly extending lugs 32 and 33 arranged to engage the cross pieceof the movable contact memher under the conditions and for the purposeshereinafter set forth. I also prefer to provide the cam member with aprojection 24 arranged to work in a slot in the frame 9 to maintain thecam member in a vertical position.

As will be hereinafter more fully set forth, to insure proper operationof the movable contact member, it is essential to p ovide fixed. stopsfor limiting the movemeat thereof in both directions. I, therefore,prefer to arrange the stops on the supporting frame and integraltherewith to prevent the possibility of any variations in the range ofmovement allowed to said contact member. A convenient way ofaccomplishing this is to rovide each of the upwardly extending ugs 13and 14 of the frame 9 with inwardly projecting stops 36 and 37 disposedin the path of the arms of the contact member in such a manner as toprecisely limit the movement thereof in both directions. This and otherdetails of construction will be hereinafter more fully disclosed afterdescribing the operation of the switch mechanism.

In describing the operation, I shall assume that the parts are in theposition illustrated in Fig, 3 wherein the arms, of the movable contact.member are in engagement with their respective stat ionary contacts andalso in engagement with the stops 37 on the frame 9. Under theseconditions, to move the arms 37 out of engagement with the stationarycontact, pressure should be exerted upon the push button 30 to move thecam member 25 to the right. This movement of the cam member causestheinclined surface 27 thereof to force the roller 23 upwardly, therebytensioning the springs 24 until the crest of the cam member passes theaxial line of the roller, whereupon the springs contract, causing thequickly travel down the inclined face 36 and move the contact memberaway from tho stationary contacts with a snap action, until it assumesthe position illustrated in Fig. 1. In practice, however, it sometimesoccurs that owing to binding of the contact arms on the stationarycontacts, the springs 24 are unable to move the contact member in themanner just described. It is for meet ipg this and other emergenciesthat I provide the lugs 32 and 33 on the cam member. Assuming that thecontact member fails to move away from the stationary contacts when, thecam member is moved to the position 1llustrated in Fig. 4, continuedmovement of said cam member, as illustrated in Fig. 5, will cause thelug to engage the cross piece 18 of said contact member, thus giving thesame a positive impulse after which the springs 24 will operate to movesaid contact member with a snap action as previously described.Furthermore, by so constructing the cam member that the lug 32 willengage the cross piece of the contact member just after the roller 23passes the crest 28 of said cam member, if the contact member sticks,the force of the springs is transferred from the contact member to thecam member with the result that a quick impulse is given to the latter,which causes the same to impart a hammerlikeblow to the former. This, ofcourse, gives the conroller to tact member a quick impulse which,further assisted by the springs 24, quickly moves said contact member toopen position. Also, it sometimes occurs, in ractiec, that he springsbreak or lose their resilimcy, thus rendering the same ineffective tooperate the switch. Again, this contingency ts act b the provision ofthe lugs 3 5 and iii. will be seen in Figs. 1 and 53, the lug 3i engagesthe portion 18 of the contact mem her when the same is in full openposition. while the lug 33 engages said portion when said member is infull closed posiiimi, which shows that if the springs should utterlyfail. said lugs, upon full operation of the cam member, would positivelymove the contact member to full open or closed p f ition. The operationof the switch fr m coco to closed position is similar to the u. rationpreviously set forth, and, tlwrelon, quires no further dc -ription.

It will be appreciated that the. uitha nism must be more or less linelyad usted, and that an important feature of the ml justment is thelocation of the stops for limiting the movement of the contact: no thtl'whereby the roller 23 will be caused rt over,the crest of the cam memberupon prearranged. movement of said cam moon ber. Hence, should thecontact mem er be stopped short of or permitted to pass beyond theprearranged limit, up operation would be seriously disturbed with thepos sible result that poor contact would made and arcs drawn between theContact in ber and the stationary contacts. :Bhoohl switch mechanism beplaced in a socket, or the like, it would ,obviou dangerous to mount thestops upon an which would be apt to warp, shrinl: or come displaced. Ofcourse, the Si pS might arranged in other ways than I have illustrated.l'lowcvcr, in the construction therein disclosed, I am mablcd to stampthe entire supporting frame from a single piece of metal, and am thusenabled to form the stops integral tlwrcwith and to locate stops thereonwith a line degree of accui The cam mcmbcn and moi able contact me; hermay also be formed of s ampings. lbw rendering the st ructurc of asimple and inexpensive form.

Another important feature of the structure illustrated is that it isst-lbcontained. That to say, should the mechanisl'n be placed in a lampsocket, or the like. it might be completely adjusted before being placedtherein, and, consequently, its operation would in no wise be affectedby any inaccuracies in the formation of the base of the lamp socket, orany variations in the dimen sions thereof, due to warp or shrinkage. Tomore clearly demonstrate this factfl have shown, in Figs. 6 and 7, aslightly modified form of such mechanism applied to a pend.-

ant switclu-L Tlieficasing ofijthe switch is of a conventionaltype;lbeingcformed: in two sections 39-.' and 140; 'secured s -tio'ether by a suitable 'screwg'4l, As i1'r- ;t he1 evice previously,described, zthe several arts toil-the switch mechanism are} mou'nte upon{a supporting frame--42' ofq substantially t hefsameconstruct-ion;as7-t-hef-framo5il. formed' of a stamping-1having afupturned port-ion 43 which 1 is secured sto one ,section of thecasing-b a screw 445P-Alsothe frame 42 has upwar ly extendingt ltigs145similar to the lugs-13-and14, except that the" "have vertically:disposed steps 46- and. .147 Instead of inwardly, rojecting stopsc l Thecontact member isthe same construction asthe contact member'tpreviouslydescribed, yvith the exception that it has lugs :48; formed thereontocoiiperate with the stops46' and 47. In this structure I use a slightldifiercnt form of a cam member 50. he cam member 50 is in the'nature ofa hollow frame so formed that the portions-51 and 52 will perform thesame functions as the la 82 and 33 of the cam member previous ydescribed. The cam member may be supported by push buttons 53 and 54which pass through opposite sides of the casing or by the frame 42. Thiscam member 1s pro-j vidcd with the same form of guide as previouslydescribed. The purpose of making the cam 55 in the form of a hollowframe is to enable me to employ a oke' 56 connected to the pin carryinthe ro er 23. This yoke lS substantially -shaped, having its armsarranged on opposite sides of the roller and its cross portion passingthrough the opening in the cam member. With such an arrangement I amenabled to dispense with one of the springs 24 shown in the a parntusdisclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, thus simp ifying the mechanism and reducingthe overall dimensions thereof. One s ring 24 is connected at one end tothe yo 0 56 and at its other end to the pivot in 15.-

With the exception a ove ointed out, the switch mechanism illustrated inFigs. 0 and T is the same as that disclosed in lugs. 1 to 5, and theoperation thereof is identical.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent.is:-

1. In an elcctricswitch in combination, a contact member, arectilinearly movable operating member adapted to directly engage saidcontact member topositively :move

some, said members having directly engag-- ing parts tending to cause a.uickvmovement of said contact member prior to; said lopcrating memberdirectly engagin zthe same.-

2. In an electric'switch incom ination, a contact member, arectilinearly-movable' op-. erating member therefor having cobperating arts adaptedafter "a predetermined move-i meat of said 1 operating memberrelgfiVetosaid contact member to be broughti'mto en- I rom said operatiin gagementto insure positive operation. of

sai

contact member, said members also having-directly engaging relativelymovable parts tending to impart a quick movement vto said contact memberprior to engagement of said coiiperating parts.

3; an electric switch, in cmnbination, a

contact member, an operating member and operative connections betweenthe same tending to actuate said contact member with asnap action upon adefinite movement of said operating member and actuating said o cratingmember to impart a hammerlilte b ow to said contact member upon failureof the latter to move under the influence of said connection.

4.1:; an electric switch in combination, a contact member, an operatingmember therefor, said members having directly engaging relativelymovable parts tending to actuate said contact'member with a quick actionupon a partial movement of said operating member, said operating memberupon continued movement directly en aging said contact member if thesame ails to operate, said engaging parts under such conditions causingsaid contact member to impart a hammer like blow to said contact member.

. 5. In an electric switch in combination, a

pivoted contact member, a reciprocable opcrating member therefor adaptedafter a predetermined de ree of movement to directly engage andpositively operate said contact member, a connection between saidmembers including resilient means on one of said members and acooperating cam on the other of said members tending to cause operationof said contact member with a snap action before said operating memberdirectly engages the same and to cause said 0 crating member to impart ahammer like b ow to said contact member under certain conditions.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, n movable contact member, anoperating membor therefor, a resilient connect-ion between the sameincluding a cam for impartin a nick movement to said contact mcm ermcu'ibcr, said operating member being aditptcd, upon continued movement,to engage and positively move said contact member to give the same aninitial impulse under certain conditions, and to move said contactmember from one positionto another under other conditions, saidresilient means being adapted to cause said operatingmember, uponengaging said contact member, to impart a lltllllll'wlllkO blowthereto.-

.7. In an electric switch, in combination, a

pivoted contact member, a sliding operating member therefor and aresilient connection :between the same holding said contactmember'against operation during a definite movement of said operatingmember and ill then -iimpartiiig a} snap movement said contactI-;member, said operatingt ime nber being adapted"; tot-dir ctly;iigagegaiidr posi 8. I nan-electricswitch, incombiiiatioii, a

pivoted -:contact inember, a-slidingloperatin 'z member-1;- f therefor.adapted toengages andpositively opera to said contact member,- and aresilient connection between I said contact men'iberfa'nd saidoperatingmembcr tending. to impart a quick movement tethe former fromthe latter, prior to the engagement of said contact member bysaidoperating member and tending to cause said-: 0 crating member to imparta hammer like blow to said contactmember under certain conditions.

9. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact member, acam operating member, a member resiliently connected to said contactmember and arranged to directly engage the cam surface of said operatingmem er to move said contact mem er at an accelerated speed independentof the speed of said operating member upon said operatin member beingmoved a predetermined istance, said operating member, upon furthermovement, being adapted to engage and positively operate said contactmem er under certain conditions.

10. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact member, acam operating member therefor, a member resiliently connected to saidcontact member and arranged to directly engage the cam surface of saidoperating member to move said contact member at an accelerated speedindependent of the speed of said operating member, said operating memberhaving a ortion adapted upon continued movement 0 said operating memberto engage said contact member to positively move the same, said cam-andits engaging member causing said"v operating mem er ifthe same engagessaid: contact member to impart a hammer like blow thereto.

11. In an electric switch, in'combination, a pivoted contact member, asliding operating member having a cam surface, a member resilientlyconnected to said contact member and directly engaging the cam-surfaceofsaid operating member, to cause said contact member, upona-predetermined movementof said operatin member, to move at anaccelerated speed independent of the speed of and in an oppositedirection to the movement of said operatin member, saido crating member,upon con inued 'move'men ,being adapted to directly engage saidcontactmember to positively operatethe same under" certain ironditimm- I 12. Inan electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame, a contact memberpivoted thereon, stops on said frame for limitthe movement of saidcontact member infiioth'directions, a sliding operating memberjhavi'ngacam surface formed by oppo- "sitely;'inclined faces, a memberresiliently connected to said contact member and directly engagingthecam surface of said operatingmember to move said contact mem- ;berin anopposite direction to the movement ofXsaid operatin member and at anacceleratedspeedindependent of the speed of said 0' eratin member.

13. nian dlectric switch, in combination, a sup orting frame, a contactmember pivoted tiereon, stops on said frame for limit.- ing the movementof said switch member in both directions, a sliding operating memberhavinga cam surface formed by oppositely inclined faces, a resilientmember connected to said contact member and directly engaging the cam,said operating member being constructed to directly engage said contactmember to positively operate the same under predetermined conditions.

14. In an electric switch, in combination, avpivoted contact member, asliding OPCI'ZH- iiig member having a cam surface provided with a cresthaving oppositely inclined faces extending therefrom, a. roller slidablymounted on said contact member, and resilient means for maintaining saidroller in en gagement with the cam surface of said operating member tocause said contact member to move atanmccelerated speed and in anopposite direction to the movement of said operating member when saidroller has been forced onto the crest of the cam surface ofsaidoperating member.

15. In an electric switch, in combination, a-pivoted contact member, asliding operating member having a cam surface provided with a cresthavin oppositely inclined faces extending thercf om, a roller slidabl vmounted on said contact member, and resilient means for maintaining saidroller in engagement with the cam surface of said operating member tocause said contact member to move at an accelerated speed and in anopposite direction to the movement of said operating member when saidroller has been forced onto the crest of the cam surface thereof, saidoperating member being adapt- .cd, upon continued movement, to directlyengage said contact member to positively operate the same underpredetermined conditions.

16. In an electric switch, in combination.

asupporting frame, a contact member pivotallymounted thereon, stops onsaid frame for limiting the movement of said contact meniherinbothdirections, a sliding operating member having a double inclined camsurface, a roller slidably mounted on said contact member, and resilientmeans for maintaining said roller in engagement with the cam surface ofsaid operating member to move said contact member in an oppositedirection to the movement of said operating member and at an acceleratedspeed inde endent of the speed of said operating mem e1- 17. In anelectric switch, in combination, a supporting frame having upwardlyextending lugs thereon, a pin supported by said lugs, a U-shaped contactmember pivoted u on said pin, stops on said lugs for limiting t iemovement of said 'contact member in both directions, a pin adapted towork in slots in said contact member, a roller carried by said in, asliding operating member arran ed etween the arms of said contact mem erand having a double inclined cam surface, coil sprin s on opposite sidesof said 0 crating mem er and each having one end t ereof connected tosaid pivot pin and its other end connected to the in carr in" saidroller for resiliently hol ding said ro ler against the cam surface ofsaid operating member, said sprin and said roller being adapted toco-act wit the cam surface of said operating member to move said contactmember in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating memberand at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operatingmember.

18. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame havingupwardly ex tendin lugs thereon, a pin supported by said ugs, a U-shapedcontact member pivoted u on said pin, stops on said lugs for limiting te movement of said contact member in both directions, a pin adapted towork in slots in said contact member, a roller carried by said in, asliding operatmg member arranged etween' the arms of said contact memberand having a double inclined cam surface, coil springs arranged on opositc sides of said cam member and each aving one end thereof connectedto said pivot pin and its other end connected to the pin carrying saidroller for resiliently holdin said roller against the cam surface of saioperating member, said sprin and said roller bein adapted to co-act withthe cam surface 0 said operating member to move said contact member inan opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at anaccelerated speed independent of the speed of said operating member,said operating member having portions adapted to engage the cross ortionof said contact member to ositive y actuate the same under predeterminedconditions.

19. In an electric switch, in combination, a substantially U-shapedpivoted contact member, a sliding operating member having a doubleinclined cam surface, said operating member having an enlar ed openingtherein through which extends t 10 cross portion and pivot of saidcontact member, a pin adapted to work in longitudinal slots in the armsof said contact member, a roller carried by said pin, a oke having armspivotally connected to said pin on opposite sides of said roller, and across portion passing through the recess in said operating member, and acoil spring connected to the cross member of said yoke and to the ivotof said contact member for resiliently iolding said roller in engagementwith the cam surface of said 0 )erating member, said sprin and saidroller being adapted to coact with the cam surface of said operatingmember to move said contact member in an opposite direction to themovement of said operating member and at an accelerated speedindependent of the speed of said operatin member.

20. ii an electric switch, in combination, a supsorting frame havingparallel lugs forme thereon, a pivot pin carried by said lugs, asubstantially U-shaped contact member pivotally mounted on said pin,stops on said lugs for limiting the movement of said contact member inboth directions, a sliding operating member including a hollow framehaving a double inclined cam surface, the cross portion of said contactmember and its pivot pin being arranged to pass throu h said frame, apin wor (in in slots in tie arms of said contact mem er, a rollercarried by said pin, a yoke having arms pivotally connected to said pinon opposite sides of said roller, the cross ortion of said yokeextending through said oierating frame, and a coil spring connecte atone end to said oke and at its other end to the 01 said contact memberfor resiliently olding said roller against the cam surface of said 0crating member, said spring and said roller eing arranged to cooperatewith the cam surface of said operating member to move said contactmember in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating memberand at an accelerated speed indeendent of the speed of said operatingmemer, said operating member having portions adapted to engage the crossortion of said contact member to positively operate the same undercertain conditions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

HENRY J. WI'EGAND.

ivot

Witnesses:

Atrium HALvicnsoiv, M. R. Famvo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. C."

lli

